Chaz hung his head in shame.  He hated being a part of public conflict.  Whatever was wrong between him and Gale was a private matter and he'd really have preferred if it stayed that way.  He knew Gale did too, which was partly why this was all so confusing.  The Professor clearly wasn't ready to come out in case it cost him his job.  But as hurt as he was seeing Gale here at Dolly's party with a woman, he would never have confronted Gale in public.  Out of respect, at the very least.

"I am so sorry I got you into this," Chaz said earnestly to his dancing companion.  "But I am... glad you were here."  Despite the uncomfortable question Darian brought up, such as Gale being emotionally abusive, he'd been a solid and steadying influence throughout the whole encounter.  Chaz felt largely reassured that Darian would continue to support him.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he shifted from foot to foot and glanced up at Darian apologetically.  "Thanks for the dance, but I should probably go now.   I've...  I've got a lot to think about."  Most notably, what Gale's jealously meant and whether or not he'd want to forgive him if the time came.  He patted Darian's arm gratefully and then slipped away into the crowd.  He wasn't  in the mood to dance anymore.